Free Bird Quilting Designs

Free Bird Quilting Designs

Mandalightful

by

Mandalightful is my second mandala quilt. I thought since I had the templates for the ‘Mandalicious’ quilt, it would be a good idea to make a full mandala quilt using those same pieces.

I chose the Me+you batiks again from Hoffman fabrics because they are perfect for raw edge appliqué. The tight weave of the fabrics means there is not much chance of the fabric fraying.

I hand cut the applique pieces because I enjoy the process and I always work out which fabrics I am going to use for each round before I start.

There is a colour chart in all of my patterns and I find them invaluable to work out the colour and fabric placements.

For this pattern I decided to join the background fabric squares together and lay the applique out all on one background piece rather than in quarters.

When I am happy with a round of applique, I iron it onto the background fabric and then continue placing the next round.

 

This pattern is available in my ‘shop’ as a download or a paper pattern. There are acrylic templates that can be used for both this pattern and the ‘Mandalicious’ pattern.

Comments

  2. Wow beautiful. Since you fused I am assuming you machine quilted them down. I bet it was hard to turn it with that detail on a whole cloth. Or did you use an invisibly small zig zag. Can you show close up of machine appliqué?

  3. Hi I bought your kit in Padukah Kentucky brought in home to California and have all the pieces on a background. Did you stitch the pieces on with invisible thread and how did you longarm quilt the whole quilt???thanks Joan

  5. Hello I’m just getting under way with Mandalightful quilt.
    I read on one of the template guides that it is not to scale. If I am to tape the placement guides together can you tell me what size the total placement guide needs to be to be the correct size. I am thinking about getting it blown up to size. Thanks

  6. I love this quilt. I’m very interested in your technique. I see from other comments that you stitched each piece down with invisible thread and a straight stitch. I would like to know which fusible webbing you have the best results with for this technique.
    Thanks so much and I wish you continued success on your quilting journey. Linda Johnson

  7. Hi Carolyn, I have just purchased your pattern and been reading through it, On page 5 you say to visit your website for quilting suggestions and examples. Is this just o look at all the quilts or do you have somewhere that you suggest different ideas for each quilt? I was wondering if quilting the background first would be an option but maybe that would make the appliqué difficult to attach. I am looking forward to choosing fabrics and starting my journey on this quilt .
    Thanks so much
    Jacqui Hale, New Zealand

    • Hello Jacqui,
      Thank you for your comment, so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.
      Unfortunately I don’t think it’s a good idea to quilt the background first.
      You can iron the appliqué pieces on to the quilt top and then, when you are quilting it, sew down the applique pieces at the same time, this will definitely speed up the quilt making process.
      Let me know if I can assist you further.
      Best wishes
      Carolyn

  8. Bought my pattern & templates yesterday. Looking forward with anticipation & excitement to the start of my journey with this quilt.